Malleable noncorrosive casing for automobile bumpers



March 23 1926.

C. G. ROSS MALLEABLE NONCORROSIVE CASING FOR AUTOMOBILE BUMPERS Filed Jan. 19, 1924 Patented Mar. .23, 1926.

UNITED. STATES.

PATENT;.OF'FICE.

CHARLES G. Ross, or nos ANeELEs," CALIFORNIA, AssIGNo'n or oNE-HnLu'ro WILLIAM L. ROSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MALLEABLE nonognnoslvn CASING non AUTOMOBILE BUMPERs. i

Application filed January 19, 1924. Serial No. 687,342.

T 0 all whom it may concern I Be it known that I,- CHARLES G. Ross, a citizen of the United States, and resident of I9 s Angeles, county ofLos Angeles, State of. California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Malleable Non corrosive Casings for Automobile Bumpers, of which the following is a specification. v p

The objects of the invention are to provide a casing for the front member, or members of an automobile bumper, which comprises a thin metal sheath or sheet metal covering which serves to protect the bumper from rust, and provides a finished appearance without subjecting the bumper itself to the usual finishing processes.

This metal casing is designed particularly to take the place of nickel plating, which has not proved to be ,apermanent finish, for

the reason, that rustwill penetrate it, and

it is also easily scratched or peeled off from the bumper, whereas my metallic casing is fitted tightly to the surface of the bumper by straining it thereon, and forms a substantial cove-ring which can only be removed ,by cutting it off.

My casing also possesses the desirable quality of flexibility to conform to the surfaces of the bumper and when the bumper is bent or distorted by the impact of a collision, the casing will bend therewith and will resume its original shape when the bumper bar or bars spring back to shape.

The invention comprises, a casing or shell of thin metal of a malleable or sutficiently pliable. character to conform tothe bending of the bumper, and which is preferably rust proof and may be an alloy, and the casing or shell encloses the entire length of the bumper or any appreciable portion or portions of the length thereof, according to the construction of the bar. 'This casing then becomes substantially a unitary part of the bumper and can not be removed therefrom except by cutting The casing is also provided with specially reinforced extremities which give a finished and ornamental appearance thereto, and also protect the exposed edges of the thin metal from tearing.

This method of encasing the bumper reduces the expense of applying the required finish to the bumper, and also gives a more ornamental appearancethereto than electroplating, and-is also far more durable.

Also a greater variety of colorsare obtainable by the use of rust-proof alloys than could be obtained in any other way.

Metals or alloys, such as copper,-brass, German silver,,aluminu1n, and imitations of silver and'gold could be used for this pur pose, and many others, if desired.v It is essential, however, that-they should be malleable or pliable so as to. make close contact withthe surface of the bumper, andthat they should not be affected by weather con-r ditions.

The invention is r hereinafter further dc scribed, exemplified in the accompanying.

drawings, and specifically pointed out in the claims. Y

In-the accompanying drawings Fig.1 is a plan of abumper bar having the improved casing attached. Fig- 2 1s a front elevationthereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the bumper bar-and casing. Fig.v

4 is a similar view showing a different form of seam. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View of the seam shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a front View of a portion of the bumperfand an end of the casing showing the end fold,

,said casing being broken away near the top of the bumper and shown, in section along the top edge of the bumper.- Fig. 7 is a sec-" tional View through the end fold which forms the reinforcing at the end of the bumper casing or sheath. Fig. 8 is a section illustrating the preferred'method of securing the casingaboutthebumper bar.

Inthese views v,A is the front bar of a bumper. This 'bar, or the major portion thereof is enclosed in a casing or sheath B composed of a thin sheet "of non-corrosive metal which is, folded around the bar A in any convenient manner so as to fitsnugly thereon and conform to the shape of the bar, and this sheet of metal has the edges joined together preferably at the back of the bar A, in any convenient manner so that the casing or sheath B is locked securely thereon.

The edges of the sheet may be united by a lock seam as shown in F igs. 3 and 5 wherein the portion F along an edge of the sheet is folded back under the back turned portion E of the other edge ofthe sheet and the'folded edge portions E and F pressed down against wardly over the upturned edge E after plished as indicated in Fig. 8 by laying the bar A upon the intermediate portion of the sheet of covering material on the base C, then drawing theside portions of the sheet over the bar and bending the edge F downwhich the assembled structure is struck b a head or die which is suitably formed to n ishthe" seam. and draw the casing snugly around the bar A.

In Fig. 4 the longitudinal edges of the casing are shown bent backward and a binding strip G is provided with inwardly bent edges H, H, which are closely interlocked therewith. be employed within the spirit and scope of the claims.

The end edges of the casing are preferably rolled or folded ove r to afford a reinforcing and neat appearance and to avoid raw edges. This'is accomplished by bending the edge portion L back between the portion M and the main portion of the sheet so that the extreme edge is enclosed and a three ply edge formed. This is preferably formed before the sheet is bent around the bar A and the extremities of the end fold may be cut away or otherwise arranged so that they do not interfere with the making of the longitudinal seam of Fig. 5.

I do not intend to limit my invention to the details of construction shown and described, except only in so far ascertain of 2. In a device of. the class described, the" combination of an elongated, tubular, thin metal sheath and a bumper bar extending through and forming a filler for the sheath so that the bar and sheath bend as a unit.

3.. The combination withthe front spring Other interlocking means may bar bend as a unit.

10. The combination with a front bumper and enclosing all sides thereof, said casing comprising a thin metallic-sheet having its longitudinal edges interlocked with each other at the rear side of said bar, and having its extremities folded-backward upon themselves to form reinforced edges.

6. The combination with a bumper bar of a casing therefor said casing being composed of non-corrosive and malleable metal, forming a protective covering for said bar, and enclosing all sides thereof, said casing being composed of a thin metal sheet having its edges secured together and its extremities reinforced. a

7. A front bar for a bumper provided with a closely fitting casing ofnon-corrosive and malleable metal, closely fitting the same on all sides thereof, said casing being provided with reinforced extremities.

8. The combination with a bumper bar-of a thin sheet of metal bent around the bar and having the edges joined together to retain the sheet of metal on the bar and form a close fitting sheath wherein the sheath and bar are adapted to bend as a unit.

9. The combination with a bumperbar of a thin sheet of pliable metal bent around'the bar, and a lock seam uniting the edges of the sheet of metal so as to form a sheath fitting the bar snugly so that the sheath and bar of a non-c0rrosive malleable sheet metal tremities folded to form a reinforcing.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set. my 7 hand this 15th day of January, 1924.

CHARLES G. ROSS. 

